What are Reading Boxes?
Reading Boxes provide informative, imaginative and motivational text whilst asking literal, interpretive, inferential and critical questions. The Reading Boxes are self managing, motivational and allow for totally individualised learning and are great for all readers, including reluctant readers.
Students' reading capabilities are taken out of their comfort zone with both empowering and challenging reading options with text types ranging from fictional narratives to reports.
Text Types
The text types available in Reading Boxes are:
- Fictional narratives
- Factual recounts
- Fictional recounts
- Reports
- Descriptions
- Persuasion/expositions
- Instructions/procedures
- Explanations
- Poetry
- Discussions
- Comics
- Visual
How Do Reading Boxes Aid Development?
Reading Boxes can be utilised to facilitate the development of key reading skills like comprehension, grammar, phonics, writing and vocabulary through both independent and guided learning pathways.
How can Reading Boxes do this?
Empowering Independence
Encourage strong readers to work independently to manage their own reading and comprehension development, allowing teachers to concentrate on those who are struggling.
Supporting All Readers
Includes multi-levelled reading content that services the needs of students at all reading stages, whether they are a new or seasoned reader, or a strong or weak reader.
Drives Understanding
Develops text understanding by asking those all important literal, interpretive, inferential and critical questions, helping to shape young minds' in preparation for academic growth, including SAT prep.
Sample Lessons
Language Arts
- Grade K - Lesson 75
- Grade 1 - Lesson 12
- Grade 2 - Lesson 35
- Grade 3 - Lesson 17
- Grade 4 - Lesson 26
- Grade 5 - Lesson 18
Reading
- Grade K - Lesson 108
- Grade 1 - Lesson 76
- Grade 2 - Lesson 71
- Grade 3 - Lesson 21
- Grade 4 - Lesson 76
- Grade 5 - Lesson 57
- Reading, Transition Level (Grades 1-2) - Lesson 6
Spelling
- Grade K - Lesson 108
- Grade 1 - Lesson 76
- Grade 2 - Lesson 71
- Grade 3 - Lesson 21
- Grade 4 - Lesson 76
- Grade 5 - Lesson 57
Research Base
- Using Direct Instruction Programs as Intervention Programs in Grades K-3
This article is about the use of Direct Instruction as an intervention program in schools that are using a core (basal) reading program that does not meet the instructional needs of their at-risk children. It provides an analysis and shows the benefits of using Reading Mastery, Horizons, or Corrective Reading as an Intervention program. - Research Base and Validation of Reading Mastery
This research brochure provides a complete summary of research pertaining to the Reading Mastery family of products including Reading Mastery Classic, Reading Mastery Plus, and Reading Mastery Signature Edition. The brochure includes a summary of research informing the design of the program as well as curriculum evaluations that show that the program has a positive effect on student achievement. - The Research Base and Validation of Direct Instruction Language Programs
- Direct Instruction Methodology Brochure
Independent Education Research and Evaluation Databases
- Institute of Education Sciences: What Works Clearinghouse
Randomized Controlled Studies
- Supplemental Instruction in Decoding Skills for Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Students in Early Elementary School
This curriculum evaluation used random assignment to evaluate the impact of two years of supplemental reading instruction using Reading Mastery on student achievement.
- Use of Evidence-Based, Small-Group Reading Instruction for English Language Learners in Elementary Grades: Secondary-Tier Intervention
This report shows an experimental/comparison study of secondarylevel, small-group instruction included 318 first- and second-grade students (170 ELL and 148 English-only) from six elementary schools. All schools served high numbers of ELL students with varying school SES in urhan and suburban communities. Experimental schools implemented a three-tier model of intervention. Results indicated generally higher gains for ELL students enrolled in direct instruction interventions. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Other Scientific Research
- Special Education and Direct Instruction: An Effective Combination
A wealth of research shows that Direct Instruction is a highly effective approach to helping special education students achieve mastery in reading and in mathematics. - Examining the Relations that Drive Reading Achievement
The authors of this study evaluated the impact of six core reading curricula on reading achievement among Florida Reading First students. They also evaluated the effectiveness of the curricula when moderated by students' grade level and socioeconomic status. - Direct Instruction and the Teaching of Early Reading: Wisconsin's Teacher-Led Insurgency
The authors of this report summarize some of the research supporting the use of Direct Instruction to teach early reading skills. They also discuss some of the barriers educators face when attempting to implement Direct Instruction, specifically proponents of whole language teaching. Finally, the researchers describe schools and teachers in Wisconsin that have achieved excellent results with Direct Instruction and how this is changing the minds of many critics - Study Shows Dramatic Impact of Reading Mastery in the Bronx, NY
In a 2008-09 study in a school in New York City's Bronx, Reading Mastery Signature Edition, Reading Strand, is shown to have a striking impact on the performance of struggling readers.